CHAPTER 180: CHAPTER 180: INTRODUCING THE BRIDE

The kids saw that their elder sister and brother-in-law only returned after dark, so they sensibly poured water and heated up dinner for them.

"Have you all finished your homework?" Xiao Xue asked as she ate, too tired to lift her arms.

"I finished it, Big Sis!" Lin Yun replied confidently, being the first to finish.

"What about you guys?" Xiao Xue asked the others.

"I’ve finished too!" Lin Shan replied.

"I’m just a little bit away..." Lin Xia said.

"Big Sis, I went with my friends to find some bird eggs today, I’ll do it soon!" Lin Chuan said with his head down.

"Alright, you two hurry up and finish it! We’re going to the town early tomorrow! We didn’t finish tidying the house today! We’ll need your help tomorrow!" Xiao Xue said.

"Okay! I’ll do it now!" Lin Chuan jumped up and went to find a candle to do homework as soon as he heard.

Lin Xia couldn’t sit still either and quickly went to finish her work.

"Xiao Xue, should I go help tomorrow too?" Wang Cuihua asked worriedly, seeing her daughter so tired.

"No need, you and Dad just pull the sewing machine over! Go borrow a wagon from the team leader!" Xiao Xue replied.

"It’s almost spring planting, and it’s a good time to take care of the cattle, will the team leader lend it?" Wang Cuihua asked.

"He will! Don’t worry!" Xiao Xue said assuredly.

Others might not get it, but if she asks! The team leader can’t refuse!

Whether he can speak at the year-end commendation meeting depends entirely on her.

He has to keep her happy, doesn’t he? He’d lend even a person, let alone a wagon.

"Alright, I’ll go first thing in the morning!" Daliang agreed while holding Lin Cai.

Bai Xianglan knows how to use a sewing machine; she worked in a textile factory her entire life, so her skills are definitely not ordinary. However, since Lin Yun likes to make clothes, Xiao Xue felt this is her strong suit and had to be nurtured. So they moved the sewing machine over, as Lin Yun is in charge of all family clothes in the future.

Wang Cuihua didn’t ask why the sewing machine was moved there; the daughter asked, so they just did as told.

"Big Sis, Uncle Gangzi came to the house today!" Lin Chuan complained to his elder sister while doing homework.

Xiao Xue looked at Wang Cuihua, full of questions in her eyes.

"He came to see your grandmother! But your great aunt took him away soon after!" Wang Cuihua explained.

Xiao Xue thought, Grandma Bai handled it well; she was really afraid of him coming inside.

"I heard great aunt wants to find a match for Uncle Gangzi!" Lin Shan added.

"That’s great!" Xiao Xue said mysteriously.

"It is good. When he was at home, with your grandfather being an only child in the Lin Family, and no close or distant relatives to help arrange things, he ended up in this situation at this age. Having a companion might help him act more restrained!" Bai Xianglan commented.

Xiao Xue found it strange, in such a big matter where a child’s future was involved, that except for Grandma, no one from the Lin Family came forward, not realizing it was because Grandpa was an only child.

It made sense now; nowadays, who can manage others’ affairs? One can’t even manage their own children’s affairs.

"It would be nice for Brother Gangzi to get a wife and live well! After all, he’s also innocent!" Daliang added.

The family didn’t continue the topic much.

Li Jianshe had already come over for dinner and left; Zhang Yuan, after finishing his meal, left quickly since he had to get up early the next day and returned to the youth settlement.

After he returned, Zhao Hongmei tried to hang around him now and then, but he deflected her with cold eyes of disdain, with Li Jianshe also intentionally or unintentionally blocking her.

This made Xiao Xue feel disgusted. She decided that once the house was built, she’d arrange a room for Zhang Yuan so he wouldn’t have to return to the youth settlement, avoiding bothersome flies that sickened everyone.

Early the next morning, everyone got up, hastily had breakfast, and prepared to head out.

Xiao Xue brought Xiao Shuang with her, planning to change her name on Monday and send her to school.

She said she had completed first grade, so they would directly send her to second grade.

This child was not only sensible but also particularly smart, having learned many characters after completing first grade.

"Big Sis, is this our house?" Lin Chuan widened his eyes and jumped off the wagon when he reached the courtyard gate, asking Xiao Xue.

Xiao Xue and Zhang Yuan rode bikes there, and after arriving, Zhang Yuan went back to the town entrance to fetch Daliang’s wagon.

"Come on in! We’re waiting for you to work!" Xiao Xue called with a laugh.

Only then did the kids get off the vehicle one by one and head into the courtyard.

Zhang Yuan and Daliang carried the sewing machine down, with Wang Cuihua following to inspect everywhere.

She liked it more the more she looked at it, internally pondering the cost. Apparently, their eldest daughter indeed found quite a number of gold bars. She figured she needed to talk to Daliang later, advising him not to ask recklessly in crowded places; otherwise, her daughter’s secret might be at risk.

The kids were also looking around with open mouths. "Second Sis, is this really our house? It’s huge, and look, the floor is all paved with blue bricks, even the toilet!" Lin Xia said, pushing Lin Yun’s arm in disbelief.

"Stop pushing me, I see it too!" Lin Yun was equally astonished, holding Lin Shuang’s small hand and looking around.

The two brothers had already run inside.

"Second Sister and Third Sister, let’s go in and see!" Lin Shuang had seen such large houses from the county, but had never entered one. It looked impressive from outside; she didn’t expect to actually live in one.

Once she spoke, the two sisters nodded and ran inside with her.

After touring all the bedrooms, they headed to the kitchen.

When Lin Xia opened the cupboard, she stood still.

Even though they had been eating various delicacies lately, with no shortage of rice and white flour, they had never seen so much at once, not to mention the two hundred eggs, which left them staring in awe and drooling.

The kitchen was well stocked with oil and seasonings, along with stacks of noodles, delivering a huge impact to the three girls.

"What are you three standing there for? Grab some basins and rags, and clean the house inside and out! Then fold the bedding into the cabinets!" Xiao Xue instructed the three little girls.

"Coming, Big Sis!" Lin Yun snapped out of it and immediately pulled her two younger sisters outside.

By then, Xiao Xue had already called the two brothers to pump water.

She had prepared several water tanks by the well, each covered to protect the water from contamination.

With a tank also in the kitchen, the brothers’ task was to pump water to fill five large tanks.

By the time Wang Cuihua had toured and admired the new house to her satisfaction, her daughters were already tidying up.

Lin Xia had taken charge of the kitchen, organizing the cupboards, washing dishes, and cleaning every corner.

Meanwhile, Lin Yun and Lin Shuang were cleaning all the bedrooms, dusting every cabinet, and folding the bedding to store in the kang cabinets.

They each had their duties and were happily busying around.

"Xiao Xue, what should Mom do?" Wang Cuihua looked around and couldn’t find anything to do.

Daliang had already picked up a broom and was sweeping the yard, leaving her unsure what to do.

"Mom, you go have a look at the supply and marketing cooperative. Later, Dad and I will take Xiao Shuang to change her name, then you guys can go home! Xiao Feng and Xiao Cai still need to be fed!" Xiao Xue suggested.

"Mom doesn’t have anything to buy, I won’t go to the cooperative. Let me help you with the work!" Wang Cuihua said.